Bamboo Flooring Information

Bamboo is a grass, not a wood, but it has many of the same properties as wood and is one of strongest "woody" plants used in construction today. The reason why is a simple one. Bamboo has a denser cell structure than wood. It is so strong that it is used in construction of buildings that have to withstand earthquakes. Bamboo flooring is installed using the same methods as with wood and it gives a distinctive appearance all its own.

Types

Bamboo flooring can be typed by the way it is made. Solid bamboo flooring is all bamboo, made by gluing several strips together. The strips can be laid in either a vertical or horizontal pattern. Engineered bamboo flooring is a top layer of bamboo glued to a bottom layer of solid wood. Woven bamboo flooring is made up from the strands of bamboo left over from the other methods. The strands are woven together and bound with high heat and high pressure. Woven bamboo is the strongest of the three types.

Features

Bamboo can come in natural, carbonized or stained finishes. Natural bamboo is a light blond color. Carbonized bamboo has been treated with heat. Bamboo fibers contain sugar and the heat carbonizes the sugar to create a color that can be anywhere from a light amber to a dark coffee. Bamboo can also be stained, just like wood flooring. Another feature to choose from is the way the grain lays. It can be laid horizontally, meaning the strips are laid flat with the top of the strip showing. This is a more informal look with the familiar bamboo knots visible. The other way is vertical, meaning that the strips are laid with the edges facing up. This gives the finished product a more uniform and formal look.

Installation

Bamboo comes with a variety of edges, each one best for different types of insulation. Click and lock edges simply interlock together. It is the simplest to install because it just floats over the subfloor and is not glued to it. With tongue and groove, the planks have a grove on one edge and a ridge on the other that will fit perfectly into the groove. The planks fit snugly together and can be glued to the sub floor, or if glue is applied to the tongues and grooves, it can be floated. Beveled edges are slightly rounded and square edged are perfectly straight. These two need to be glued to the subfloor.

Pros

Bamboo will not react to the changes in climate and humidity to the extent that wood flooring does, and that means that it will not expand and contract to the same extent. Bamboo is denser than wood and water and other spills will not soak in as fast. However, spills should still be moped up as soon as possible. Bamboo is harder than many woods. For instance, bamboo is, on the average, 30 percent harder than red oak and as much as 15 percent harder than maple. Bamboo floors are easy to care for. In most cases, all it needs is a vacuuming. If you do mop, just be sure to wring out all the water first and just leave the mop damp.

Cons

While spills will not soak into a bamboo floor fast, they do need to be picked up as soon as possible or the floor could be permanently stained. High heels can make a sizable dent in a bamboo floor. If the floor has a urethane finish, it will eventually show signs of wear and will need to be recoated or have the finish restored. Each manufacturer has specific care instructions that should be followed. Too much sun can cause damage and fading. Windows should have shades, curtains or blinds.

References

• FindAnyFloor.com: Bamboo Flooring Types
• Bamboo Floor Gallery: Bamboo Flooring Facts
• Bamboo Flooring Facts: Bamboo Flooring Care